Medium for treating information



8, 1967 NOBORU MASUDA 3,335,423

MEDIUM FOR TREATING INFORMATION Filed March 24, 1965 United StatesPatent Ofilice 3,335,423 MEDIUM FOR TREATING INFORMATION Noboru Masuda,Ota-ku, Tokyo-to, Japan, assignor to Denki-Onkyo Kabushiki Kaisha,Ota-ku, Tokyo-t0,

Japan Filed Mar. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 442,263 3 Claims. (Cl. 346-135)Punched tapes or punched cards have been mostly used as intermediatememory elements.

This invention relates to recording media for treating informationwherein the same means as such punched tapes are electrically given athigh speeds by using an electrostatically recording means and moreparticularly to treating media made of a transparent synthetic film.

There is already a system of electrostatically depositing toners byusing paper for a supporting medium. However, as a reflected light isused therein, no information treatment high in S/N has been possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide a treating medium madeof a transparent synthetic film to eliminate the above mentioned defect.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofeliminating the disturbance of information in the case of using atransparent synthetic film.

The elctrostatic recording according to the present invention is to givean electric charge from a penningshaped electrode directly to thesurface of a synthetic film which is different from any conventionalphotoconductive substance.

Further, in the present invention, as different from the system of usingpaper coated with polyethylene, an electric charge giving substance isdeposited to be about 100a thick on a base so that electrostaticdeposition may be easy.

The present invention is to provide a cheap treating medium in which theabove mentioned defect of high molecular structures or specifically ofsynthetic films are properly and effectively eliminated.

FIGURE 1 is an explanatory view of a charging mechanism of aconventional simple synthetic film.

FIGURE 2 is an explanatory view of a charging mechanism according to thepresent invention.

An embodiment of the present invention shall be explained in detail withreference to FIGURES 1 and 2 in the following.

FIGURE 1 shows a charging mechanism of a conventional medium and FIGURE2 shows a charging mechanism of a medium according to the presentinvention. 1 is an electrode to apply an electric charge and connectedto the positive or negative high voltage power source 5 through anelectric conductor. The other electrode of the high voltage power source5 is connected to an electrode 4 set opposite the electrode 1 alsothrough an electric conductor so as to be easily controlled with anelectric switching circuit. 2 is a treating medium formed of a syntheticfilm in the form of a single layer coated on the surface with suchelectrolyte as, for example, sodium carbonate or mixed within with asurface activator specifically containing a nonion series substance.

The charging mechanism in the treating medium in the form of a singlelayer in FIGURE 1 shall now be explained.

Said treating medium is of a high molecular structure of a high propertyof electrification and is made of an electrostatic insulator having aproperty of keeping an electrostatic charge. Therefore, as in FIGURE 1,there is usually a slight air layer 3 between the treating medium 2 andthe electrode 4.

3,335,423 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 It is well known that the electrostaticcapacity is repre sented by the formulas From the Formulas 1 and 2,

wherein As the area S is in contact with the surface of the medium insome places but is enclosed with the insulator, even if the vicinity ofS is in contact with the electrode plate 4, they will be individuallyinsulated. That is to say, when the medium is removed from the electrodeplate and is developed without neutralizing an electrostatic latentimage, d in the Formula 3 will become an infinity and, as K is constant,the voltage will also become an infinity. That is to say, where there issuch minute air layer, a kind of destruction of insulation will becaused by removing the medium.

There is another method wherein an apparent electric charge isneutralized by depositing a toner. However, in the present invention,the medium and electrode are made integral and any air gap between themedium and the back electrode plate is eliminated so that the record maybe good.

FIGURE 2 is an explanatory view of a charging mechanism in which is useda treating medium according to the present invention. In the drawing, 6is a charging electrode and 7 is such transparent synthetic film of ahigh molecular structure of a specific resistivity of less than 10ohm-centimeters as, for example, a synthetic film composed mostly ofpolyethylene or such simple substance as polypropylene or polystyroltreated on the recording surface with the above mentioned film. 8 is anelectrostatic conductor of such transparent substance of a volumespecific resistance of less than from 10 to approximately 10ohm-centimeters as, for example, polyarylmethane, its mixture or 7-7-8-8tetracyanoquinodimethane (T.C.N.Q.). 9 is a conductor of a very lowvolume specific resistance of from approximately 10 to 10 centimetersmade of such transparent substance as, for example, cellophane, orpolyvinyl alcohol. A recording medium having three layers is shown as anembodyment in the above. However, it is needless to say that any othervarious combinations are possible. By merely applying an antistaticpaint, its effect can be expected to some extent. In case a solvent orheat is to be used in fixing, a combination adapted to it can be easilyformed. Further, as the medium of the present invention is formedwithout making any intermediate air layer between any of the threelayers 7, 8 and 9, its resistance is so low that, as the second mediumlayer 8, the third medium layer 9 and the electrode plate 10 are of thesame potential, no electrostatic action will occur at all in any minutespace. That is to say, even if the third layer 9 and the metallicelectrode 10 are separated from each other, an electrostatic latentimage made by an air corona on the transparent synthetic film 7 will notbe disturbed.

In the present invention, not only the defects in recording on a simplesubstance can be easily eliminated but also there is substantially noneed of cares of the disturbance of an electric charge caused by thevariation of the distance in recording. By using such substance as isshown in the embodiment, a medium adapted to be used for informationtreating apparatus can be obtained without impairing the transparency.Further, in the present invention, by forming the medium in two, threeor more layers, without reducing the resolving power, a very clearinformation treatment high in S/N can be obtained cheaply at a highspeed. By inserting a nontransparent layer between, an informationtreating medium of a good contrast can be obtained.

What is claimed is: t

1. A medium for treating information adapted to be disposed between acharging electrode and a further electrode comprising in combination: ahigh molecular synthetic film layer incorporating an electrolyte chargereceptive recording surface disposed adjacent the charging elec trode;an electrostatic conductive layer supporting said synthetic film layerand characterized by a specific resistivity of less than 10 and aconductive layer of lower volume specific resistivity than saidelectrostatic conductive layer supporting said last mentioned layeradjacent to said further electrode.

2. A medium for handling information adapted to be disposed between acharging electrode and a further electrode comprising in combination: ahigh molecular synthetic film layer comprised principally of a material,selected from the group comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, andpolystyrol, having a surface coating of an electrolyte; an electrostaticconductive layer underlying the synthetic film layer; and a conductivelayer underlying said electrostatic conductive layer and disposedadjacent to said further electrode; said layers being characterized bydecreasing specific resistivity from the film layer to the conductivelayer.

3. The medium of claim 1 wherein said layers are fixed together withoutany intermediate air layers to minimize the resistance of said layersfrom said charging electrode to said further electrode.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,063,872 11/1962 Boldebuck117211 3,138,547 6/1964 Clark 204-2 3,213,429 10/ 1965 Schwertz 340-173RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

I. W. HARTARY, Assistant Examiner.

1. A MEDIUM FOR TREATING INFORMATION ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED BETWEEN ACHARGING ELECTRODE AND A FURTHER ELECTRODE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: AHIGH MOLECULAR SYNTHETIC FILM LAYER INCORPORATING AN ELECTROLYTE CHARGERECEPTIVE RECORDING SURFACE DISPOSED ADJACENT THE CHARGING ELECTRODE; ANELECTROSTATIC CONDUCTIVE LAYER SUPPORTING SAID SYNTHETIC FILM LAYER ANDCHARACTERIZED BY A SPECIFIC RESIS-